The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater softball team will travel to Lake Forest, Ill. for NCAA Division III Regional action this week hosted by Lake Forest College. The Warhawks open regional play against Hope College Thursday, May 7 at 1 p.m.
Ticket prices are $6 for adults, $3 for student, senior citizens and children ages 2-11. There will be no admission charge for children under the age of two.
UW-Whitewater (36-7), co-champions of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, shutout UW-River Falls 4-0 in Eau Claire to secure a conference-record seventh WIAC Tournament title and automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Warhawks have won 16 of their last 17 outings including their last four contests. UW-Whitewater is the power team coming into the regional hitting .332 as a team with 51 homeruns. The pitching staff has combined for an earned run average of 2.03, second lowest of the four teams in the regional.
Offensive Leaders: Jo Jablonski (Palatine, IL/Palatine) (SR-SS): .425 batting average, 54 hits, 8 doubles, 10 homeruns, 39 RBI, 24 walks
Mallory Klotz (New Berlin, Wis./West) (FR-OF): .420 batting average, 58 hits, 45 runs, 5 triples, 9 stolen bases
Deven DuCharme (Hudson/Hudson) (SR-OF): .395 batting average, 47 hits, 45 runs, 10 homeruns, 31 RBI, 16 stolen bases
In the Circle: Bekka Houda (Lisle, IL/Lisle) (SR-RHP): 18-4, 1.89 ERA, 17 complete games, 8 shutouts, 129.1 innings, 123 strikeouts, 29 walks
Kelynn Sporer (Chilton/Chilton) (SR-RHP): 13-3, 1.97 ERA, 11 complete games, 6 shutouts, 103.0 innings, 67 strikeouts, 38 walks
UW-Whitewater opens play against Hope College (27-9). The Flying Dutch have lost the last three including two in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament. HC received one of the 20 at large berths into the NCAA DIII Tournament this season. With one of the top hitters in the nation leading the Flying Dutch, Hope hits .350 as a team with 37 homeruns. Six players sporting the orange and blue have recorded time on the mound combining for an earned run average of 2.53.
Offensive Leaders: Autumn Anderson (JR-CF): .450 batting average, 50 hits, 37 runs, 8 doubles, 20 stolen bases
Julie Sobieski (SR-IF): .409 batting average, 45 hits, 8 homeruns, 5 doubles, 37 RBI
Sierra Mutschler (FR-IF): .381 batting average, 43 hits, 10 doubles, 10 homeruns, 38 RBI
In the Circle: Sydney Jones (FR-RHP): 8-3, 1.87 ERA, 2 complete games, 75.0 innings, 101 strikeouts, 19 walks
Natalie Hiser (SR-LHP): 8-1, 3.93 ERA, 1 complete game, 62.1 innings, 51 strikeouts, 9 walks
The second game Thursday features host Lake Forest College (31-8), winners of the Midwest Conference for the second straight season, and North Central College (31-7). The Foresters have won their last three outings and bring a balanced attack to the regional. The Warhawks faced LFC in their final game of the regular season sweeping the Foresters 4-0 and 6-0 in Lake Forest on April 28. The Foresters boast the top team earned run average in the four-team regional, 1.85. Offensively, the Foresters hit .339 with 41 homeruns this season.
Offensive Leaders: Sally Snarski (JR-1B): .407 batting average, 44 hits, 8 doubles, 8 homeruns, 37 RBI, 26 walks
Alex Hemmer (JR-C): .371 batting average, 46 hits, 35 runs, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 4 homeruns, 33 RBI
Kaleigh Ambrose (JR-3B/P): .319 batting average, 37 hits, 8 doubles, 9 homeruns, 33 RBI
In the Circle: Jenny McTague (SO-RHP): 13-5, 1.70 ERA, 11 complete games, 115.1 innings, 90 strikeouts, 26 walks
Jessi Werner (JR-RHP): 18-3, 2.01 ERA, 18 complete games, 3 saves, 139.1 innings, 177 strikeouts, 46 walks
The Cardinals of North Central dropped their first two games in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin and come into the regional on a three game skid. UW-Whitewater opened the 2015 season against North Central falling to the Cardinals 5-4 on a walk off homerun on March 20 in Clermont, Fla. A team of consistent shot-hitters, the Cardinals have the top batting average in the Lake Forest Regional, .363, but have registered just 22 homeruns. On the pitching mound, NCC has two hurlers combining for an earned run average of 2.09.
Offensive Leaders: Kiersten Tinkoff (SR-1B): .463 batting average, 63 hits, 9 doubles, 4 homeruns, 47 RBI
Carly Trenhaile (SR-OF): .413 batting average, 52 hits, 9 doubles, 39 RBI, 34 runs scored
Corrine Rowe (FR-IF): .386 batting average, 44 hits, 38 runs, 9 doubles, 6 homeruns, 43 RBI, 19 walks
In the Circle: Andrea Starr (JR-RHP): 19-4, 1.59 ERA, 21 complete games, 6 shutouts, 6 saves, 158.1 innings, 105 strikeouts, 34 walks
Sarah Esposito (FR-RHP): 6-2, 3.37 ERA, 5 complete games, 54.0 innings, 21 strikeouts, 19 walks
Tournament ScheduleThursday, May 7 Game 1: UW-Whitewater vs. Hope, 1 p.m.
Game 2: North Central vs. Lake Forest, 3:30 p.m.
Friday, May 8 Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 12 p.m.
Game 7 (if necessary): Rematch of Game 6, 2:30 p.m.
Participant SnapshotsHOPE COLLEGE
FLYING DUTCH Location: Holland, Mich.
Founded: 1866
Enrollment: 3,343
Colors: Orange and Blue
Head Coach: Mary VandeHoef
Career Record at Hope: 109-79-2 (5th season)
2015 Record: 27-9 (Home: 9-3, Away: 8-3, Neutral: 10-3)
LAKE FOREST COLLEGE
FORESTERS Location: Lake Forest, Ill.
Founded: 1857
Enrollment: 1,575
Colors: Red and Black
Head Coach: Joe Kinsella
Career Record at LFC: 189-134-1 (9th season)
2015 Record: 31-8 (Home: 6-3, Away: 11-3, Neutral: 14-2)
NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE
CARDINALS Location: Naperville, Ill.
Founded: 1861
Enrollment: 3,000
Colors: Red and Black
Head Coach: Jim Kulawiak
Career Record at NCC: 754-321-3 (27th season)
2015 Record: 31-7 (Home: 11-3, Away: 10-2, Neutral: 10-2)
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
WARHAWKS Location: Whitewater, Wis.
Founded: 1868
Enrollment: 12,148
Colors: Purple and White
Head Coach:
Brenda Volk Career Record at UW-W: 528-212-4 (17th season)
2015 Record: 36-7 (Home: 13-3, Away: 10-1, Neutral: 13-3)
